News
Reforms begin to ease security clearance backlog
Build-up of Top Secret clearances has been reduced 25 percent since February.
Defense
Accounting improvements underway at Pentagon
Officials cite progress but say four or more years are needed to resolve lingering financial issues
Pay & Benefits
Open Season Time
Employees have about a month to opt into health insurance and flexible spending plans.
Tech
Challenge of contract to upgrade federal jobs site rejected
GAO rules that OPM’s choice of a firm to enhance USAJOBS was reasonable, despite higher cost of its proposal.
News
House panel votes to stop diversion of patent fees
Agency says plan to streamline and improve operations depends on ending practice of using fees to finance other federal operations.
News
Amtrak president fired by board of directors
David Gunn had clashed with Bush administration since taking his post in 2002.
Defense
Pentagon says urgent action needed on defense spending bill
Dec. 1 military pay day could all be jeopardized if lawmakers cannot agree on fiscal 2006 spending levels before Thanksgiving break.
Defense
Base closure recommendations go into effect
Deadline for congressional action to overturn independent panel’s proposals passes.
Management
Panel weighs idea of ‘super court’ to handle federal employee appeals
Opponents of proposal say such a court would simply create more bureaucracy.
Defense
House panel hears call to support new intelligence office
Congress has not designated a specific fiscal 2006 funding level for information sharing program manager's office.
Management
Congress looks to provide $1.2 billion for VA in austere budget environment
Money is needed to achieve President Bush's amended funding request, announced this summer after embarrassing errors in VA budget projections were discovered.
News
Science, tech programs fare well in 2006 spending bill
National Science Foundation slated to see a 3 percent increase over fiscal 2005.
Management
Unions attack Pentagon’s policy switch on national bargaining
National-level bargaining was portrayed as one of “three pillars” of personnel reforms in initial talks.
News
Lawmaker concerned flu plan is too costly
House committee leader says he is opposed to throwing money at an undefined problem.
Management
SBA launches program to expedite loans for small Gulf Coast firms
Move comes amid mounting criticism that agencies are failing to involve small businesses in reconstruction.
Defense